Hospital bed table



June 5, 1956 L. SMITH HOSPITAL BED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original FiledJune 21, 1952 INVENTOR. ea :5 25/ June 5, 1956 1.. SMITH 2,749,197

HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Fild June 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR.

Ja e 577221 1 June 5, 1956 L. SMITH 2,749,197

HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Filed June 21, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 June 5,1956 L. SMETH HOSPITAL BED TABLE Original Filed June 1, 1952 5Sheets-Sheet 4} lee c5722; Zfi

June 5, 1956 SMlTH HOSPITAL BED TABLE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original FiledJune 21, 1952 INVENTOR. lee 22;?

Gi f y United States Patent HOSPITAL BED TABLE Lee Smith, Ludington,Mich., assignor to Carrom Industries, Inc., Ludington, Mich., acorporation of Michigan Original application June 21, 1952, Serial No.294,870. D6iviged and this application July 17, 1953, Serial No. 3 8, 48

3 Claims. (Cl. 31140) The present invention relates to hospitalaccessory and special utility tables and is concerned with articles ofthis class which are particularly adapted for use by immobilized,bedridden or other in-patients who may be physically restricted orconfined under a wide variety of restraints.

The present invention is a division of my copending application SerialNo. 294,870.

In order to be conformable with cleanliness and sanitation standards andmeet with the latitude of adjustments which are characteristic ofhospital type beds, a general purpose accessory table of this kindrequires a considerable range of adjustability, facility towardaccessibility and ease of regulation. Various special service provisionsare needed in order to accommodate for the different requirements duringuse, both by the confined patient with possible limited ambulatory meansand by the bedside attendant or doctor for the sake of efficiency.

Among the general considerations which influence the design andcharacteristics of an eflicient hospital table construction, cleanlinessand the comforts and conveniences of the patient are paramount.

Thus, a totally satisfactory accessory table should have anuninterrupted top surface which can be wiped clean without debrisfalling through cracks or openingsinto the lifting mechanism, or fromsuch mechanism onto the bed, yet will serve equally well for right orleft hand access and be adjustable to different elevations in conformitywith hospital beds without being inordinately heavy, bulky or awkward tohandle.

A principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide amultiple-purpose utility table which serves as a hospital bed accessoryand is characterized by an improved raising and lowering mechanismsealed against contamination and escape of material from the mechanism,yet includes an uninterrupted top surface and a wide range ofadaptability with a control of utmost simplicity for universaladaptability on either the right or the left hand for universal accessby patients in a hospital bed.

With these and other objects in view attention is now directed to thefollowing detailed specification and to the annexed disclosure drawingsin both of which corresponding parts are designated by similar referencecharacters throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple utility hospital table havingembodied therein various features of the present invention andillustrated with its mirror and back rest board in utility position; I

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same device viewed from an opposite vantagewith certain of its concealable accessories shown partially exposed;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view corresponding with the illustration inFig. 2 with the mirror back rest acces- Figs. 2 and 4. The crank handleis pinned to means of a transverse key pin as at 47.

A conical thrust spring 48 confined within a circular- "ice Fig. 6 is atransverse sectional view taken on the same line as Fig. 5, but showingthe inclined back rest in vari ous of its alternative positions ofutility;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on line66 of Fig. 6; i

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately on line88 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional plan detail view taken approximately online 99 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional detail view takenapproximately on line 10-10 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken approximately on line11-11 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on line 1212of Fig. 11.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, a smoothplanar uninterrupted table top element 21 which may be made of hardwoodveneer plywood or laminated composition, is secured as at 22 to a castiron, cast aluminum, cast aluminum alloy of .8% copper, 8.0% of zinc,.4% of magnesium and 90.8% of aluminum sold under the trademark Tenzaloyor forged spider bracket 23 by means of recessed-head stud bolts 24. Thespider bracket 23 has integrally formed with it a principal socket orhub 25 in which is snugly fitted and preferably welded a length ofsturdy tubing 26.

The latter slidably receives an upstanding tubular beam 27 which issecurely anchored in a hub formation 28 of a pedestal casting 29 whichforms part of a rigid base framework and is matched by a companionpedestal casting 31.

In order to afford abundant stability against unbalancing, the twopedestal castings 29 and 31 are spaced apart and securely integrated byan intermediate tubular length of beam 32 which enters opposedsidewardly projecting hubs 33 and 34 in the castings 29 and 31,respectively.

The two pedestal castings 29 and 31 are contoured in.

gracefully sloping convergence, each from its intermediate or centerbody portion where it is largest towards its opposite extremities whereeach pedestal casting receives a swivel mounted caster'roller 35.

The'upstanding beam 27 is vertically slotted with a shallow butaccurately milled key-way as at 36, Fig. 11, for the reception of aninwardly depressed portion 37 on the tube 26 produced by shearing thelatter member as at 38 and then deforming the portion 37 inwardly. Thesnug confinement of portion 37 in the groove 36 secures the relativeradial disposition of the tube elements 26 and 27 and as a consequencethe table top 21 together with all of its carried parts is maintainedparallel to the pedestal framework and particularly with beam 32thereof.

As best revealed in Fig. 10, the top of tubular member 26 is closed by atransversely welded plate 39 having a central journal proportioned toreceive the reduced diameter section 41 of a screw shaft 42. An endthrust bearing 43 comprising a frictionless ball bearing is interposedbetween the underside of plate 39 and the shouldered extremity of screwshaft 42 so that the weight borne by. the-vertical beam elements 27 and26 may not develop a frictional strain or binding between the screwshaft 42 and a nut 44 on the internal tubular beam 27 which ispreferably anchored rigidly in place by means of the pinion screws 45.

Rotation is imparted to the screw shaft 42 by means of a crank handle 46proportioned as best indicated in shaft 42 by space 49 provided in thetable top 21 urges an escutcheon plate 51 resiliently against the hubflange 52 of handle crank 46.

sequently results in acorresponding raising or lowering of the table top21, which operation is limited in range only by the length of thethreaded portion of shaft 42.

In order to provide an upper limit beyond which the table 21 may not beelevated a blocking or cotter pin 53 is provided which is insertedthrough the lowest opening in shaft 42. Accordingly, when nut 64encounters the pin 53, the rotation of'shaft 42 in that direction willbe arrested. A similar cotter pin 54 is inserted through the upperportion 41 of shaft 42' for the purpose of axially stabilizing the screwshaft with respect to transverse plate 39.

Near its pedestal end the table top 21 is arcuately rounded withrelatively large radius curvatures while at its remote end it iscorrespondingly rounded but with minor radius curvatures. substantiallyrectangular unit which has an uninterrupted top surface that is easilykept clean in accordance with highest hygienic requirements. Moreover,it is to be noted that the table top 21 is at all times level so that itreliably supports medicine vessels, food dishes or other articles whichmay be placed upon it by the patient or by the attendants, and that itis comparatively secure against tilting because of its substantialbalance throughout as well as because of its rigid pedestal post andheight adjustment feature.

For the convenience of patients desiring to read or comb their hair,etc. an accessory built to operate like a drawer is slidably mounted onthe bottom of the table top for selective use from either side of thetable top. This accessory constitutes a rectangular frame 56, Fig. 9,made of side frame members 57, secured at their ends to front and rearframe members 58 and 59. Sturdiness is assured by the provision ofcorner blocks 61 shaped so that they flare as at 62 from the narrowheighth of theside frames 57 to the relatively greater height of therear end frame 59'to provide'vertical as well as angular stability.

The slide frame 56 is supported between a pair of guide rails 63 and 64which are secured to the undersurfaces of table top 21 as best indicatedin Fig. 8. Each rail 63 and 64 is rabbeted along its guide surface witha wide groove 65 preferably located in the upper part thereof in whichare placed certain strategically, as more fully described hereafter,located limit stops 66, 67, 68 and 69 (Figs. 2 and 3). The frame railmembers 57 rest upon metallic flange plates 71 and 72, Fig. 8, which areoffset and secured to the bottom edges of the guide rail and extendacross the full width of the table terminating just short of the aprontrims 73 and 74'onopposite sides of the table.

On its inner surface the rear rail 59 carries a pair of slide bolts 75and 76, Fig. 8, frictionally mounted in housings 77 that are secured tothe rail at the endsthereof. When extended the ends of bolts 75 and 76project beyond the side frame members 57 where they are received in therabbeted grooves 65 to cooperate with the stops 66, 67, 68 and 69. Thebolt 75 on one side is disposed higher than the bolt 76 on the otherside and is located to move within the upper portion of the groove 65 onthat side while bolt 76 moves within the lower Stops 66 and 68 arelocated at opposite ends in the groove 65 f portion of the groove 65 onthe'other side.

posite is true. The stop67" opposite stop 66 .is located in the lowerportion of its groove 65, while stop 69at The table top is a smooththeother end is located in the upper portion of its groove 65.

By means of this arrangement full 180 reverseability of the slide frame56 is attained. That is to say, by withdrawing the bolts 75 and 76 toclear the stops the entire frame 56 may be withdrawn from between theside rails 63 and 64 on one side of the table, turned 180, andreinserted from either side to open from the other side of the table 21,thereby accommodating right or left hand use depending upon which sidethe patient is when the table is rolled into place from one or the otherside of the bed. After the frame 56 is inserted from either side withorientation as indicated in Fig. 5, the bolts are forced outwardly by apersons fingers with access had from the bottom through the open frame.Thereafter, the forward stops 66 and 67 constitute limits for the bolts75 and 76 to prevent forward removal of the frame while the ends of theaprons overlapping the ends of the grooves 65 serve as back stops. Underthese circumstances the bolts 75 and 76 do not encounter the rear stops68 and 69 but instead permit the frame 56 to be pushed clear into thetable until a rail 81 hinged to the front of the frame by hinge elements84 and 85 comes into alignment with the apron rail 73.

For cushioning the back stops, small resilient pads of felt or rubber 82are secured to the ends of the aprons where exposed by the grooves 65 tosoften the engagement of the projecting bolts 75 and 76. On the otherhand with the frame 56 arranged to open on the opposite side of thetable as best indicated in Fig. l the bolts 75 and 76 are adapted toencounter the limit stops 69 and 68 inorder to prevent removal of theframe from thatside of the table, under which circumstances they are notinterfered with by the limit stops 66 and 67. Thus, the frame may beinserted its full depth under symmetrically opposite conditions.

The hinger rail 81 is part of a second frame which carries amirror 86and includes (Fig. 6) a backing panel 87, bounded by the hinger rail 81itself in front, a back rail 88 and side frame elements 89 and 91.Grooves 90 in the rails 81 and 88 slidably receive the mirror edgewisetherein'in supported relation as held in place by side braces 80 appliedin suitable manner as by screws after the mirror is in place.

The entire mirror panel thus in its reposed position, Fig; 5 occupiesvery little space and rests snugly on the top of frame 56 so that it maybe entirely concealed under the" table top 21'. By withdrawing the frame56 to the position in which it is shown in Fig. 5 until the rail 88 isclear of the tabletop 21, the mirror 86 may be raised and-theninclined-in any one of many positions of which twohave been illustratedin Fig. 6 in dotted and solid ouflines.

The an'gular'position or tilt imposed at will upon the niirror frame 86at'an'y time is preserved by the combined positioning of slide frame 56and the resting of the mirror frame against the edge of the table at theparticular angle of inclination imposed on the mirror frame 86. Thisposition is maintain'edand slippage or marring of associated parts isavoided by a pair of thick sponge rubber strips 93 a'nd 94 embedded inthe side rails 88 and 91 (Fig. 7) as will now be discussed. V

The rubber strips 93 and'94 are preferably made of thick sponge rubberhaving a rough surface so astoprovide deep compressibility as well as asurface of a high coefficient of friction. Thus the corner edges 95 or96 of the tabletop 21 (Pig. 6) bite deeply into the rubber strip at anydegree of inclination of the mirror and thereby support the mirror at agiven tilt withoutbeing' scarred o'r permittingslippage; Thus, not onlydo the strips serve' the purpose of preventing any damage, how everslight, from being done to the table top corners and 96, butmoreo've'r,cooperate cushionwise these cornerst'o'pennifthem to become detentsdeeply embedded in the rubber to hold a given position. This'makes itpossible to place heavy books, magazines or other objects on the mirrorpanel and use it as a book rest at an angle established to suit theconvenience of the patient.

For the purpose of securely anchoring and retaining the rubber strips 93and 94, the side frame members 89 and 91 are grooved deeply to receivethese strips to a limited depth where they are cemented in place. Thispractice not only prevents the strips 93 and 94 from creeping andcurling, but also it permits them to have additional thickness desiredto improve their cushioning or compressibility when encountered by thetable corners 95 and 96.

Since the tray 56 is insertable from either side of the table top 21, asalready explained and since its sliding movement is similarly regulatedby the slide bolts 75 and 76 encountering the limit stops 6669 theavailability of the book rest mirror tray 86 is rendered universal whilebeing totally concealable when not in use.

In Figs. 2 and 3 the treatment of the ends of the apron rails 73 and 74are shown. Their ends at the free end of the table are squared androunded with a finished corner. At the ends nearest the pedestal supportthe rails are curved as at 97, Fig. 1, with the side edgescorrespondingly filleted so that the table can be moved over an occupiedbed with little, if any, possibility of catching in the bed clothing.

In order to achieve still more utility and efiiciency afforded by thisdesign, the space between the apron rails 73 and 74 at the free end ofthe table 21'is utilized to capacity to receive stationary or otheritems of interest to patients. Each of the apron strips 73 and 74 areequipped on their facing side with suitable strips serving as tracks onwhich the adjacent edges of the drawer 101 is smooth and flush and sodimensioned as to conform artistically with the height and shape of theapron strips 73 and 74, when fully inserted.

While the present invention has been explained and described withreference to precise embodiments of structural detail, and theattainment of the objects is thereby understood, nevertheless, it willbe appreciated that numerous modifications and variations can be madewithout departing from the spirit or the invention, the scope of whichis commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a hospital bed accessory, the combination of a mobile pedestalhaving at one end thereof an upstanding beam, a nut having a threadedopening carried at the upper end of the beam, a tube received intelescoping relationship over said beam including a plate closing theupper end of the tube and having an opening therethrough in axialalignment with the threaded opening, spider means carried by said tube,a table top supported on said spider and having an opening therethroughabove said plate, a threaded shaft received in said beam through saidnut and having an end extending above said plate, a crank received onthe upper end of the shaft and having a downwardly facing shoulder atthe level of the top of the table top, escutcheon means engaging saidshoulder and terminating marginally flush with the upper edges of saidopening in the table top, means intermediate said plate and escutcheonmeans for urging the latter against said shoulder, and means formaintaining said beam and tube against relative rotation.

2. A hospital overbed table comprising a pedestal having at one endthereof an upstanding tubular beam member closed at the top with athreaded opening therethrough, a tube received over said beam memberclosed at the top with a journal opening therethrough in axial alignmentwith said threaded opening, a table top supported on the upper end ofsaid tube having an opening thereabove, a threaded shaft received insaid tubular member and said threaded opening, said shaft having areduced end portion journalled in said journal opening and extendinginto said opening, a shouldered portion beneath said journal opening andend thrust bearing means disposed between said journal opening and saidshouldered portion of said shaft, a crank supported upon the upper endof the shaft for rotating said shaft, and an escutcheon plate flush withthe top of the table disposed in sealed relationship with said crank.

3. A hospital overbed table comprising a pedestal having at one endthereof an upstanding tubular beam member closed at the top with athreaded opening therethrough, a tube received over said beam memberclosed at the top with a journal opening therethrough in axial alignmentwith said threaded opening, a table top supported on the upper end ofsaid tube having an opening thereabove, a threaded shaft received insaid tubular member and said threaded opening, said shaft having areduced end portion journalled in said journal opening and extendinginto said opening, end thrust bearing means disposed between saidjournal opening and said shaft, a crank having a hub telescoping overthe upper end of said shaft and including a transverse pininterconnecting the hub and the shaft, below the level of the table top,escutcheon means flush with the top of the table disposed in sealedrelationship with said crank and resilient means for urging saidescutcheon means upwardly to cover said pin, access to said pin forremoval of the crank being had by depressing said escutcheon means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,901,174 Kusterle Mar. 14, 1933 2,249,455 Caldwell July 15, 19412,329,902 Hillenbrand Sept. 21, 1943 2,342,631 Hillenbrand Feb. 29, 19442,368,748 Doty Feb. 6, 1945 2,628,142 Dubach Feb. 10, 1953 2,628,147Berner Feb. 10, 1953 2,659,571 Ferguson Nov. 17, 1953

